Robert De Niro gaat de legendarische football coach Vince Lombardi spelen in ESPN Films’ Lombardi. De Oscarwinnende scenarist Eric Roth (Forrest Gump) heeft het script geschreven. The National Football League is betrokken bij het project, wat waarschijnlijk inhoudt dat we geen controversiële zaken zullen tegenkomen in de film (steroïden, alcohol).

Risky Business zegt dat het de bedoeling is dat de film wordt uitgebracht tussen de AFC en NFC conference kampioenswedstrijden en de Super Bowl in 2012. Het verhaal volgt Lombardis Green Bay Packers jaren, ook al heeft ESPN de rechten verworven van zijn hele levensverhaal en verder ook nog de rechten van Instant Replay, het boek van Jerry Kramer en Dick Schaap.

Voor de mensen die geen kaas kunnen maken van Vince Lombardi is hier een stukje over de coach van de Engelse Wikipedia:

Lombardi was the head coach of the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League from 1959-67, winning five league championships during his nine years. Lombardi went on to accomplish a 105–35–6 record as head coach (.750, discarding ties as was the NFL policy); and he never suffered a losing season. He led the Packers to a still-unmatched three consecutive NFL championships in 1965, 1966, and 1967; winning the first two Super Bowls, solidifying his place in history as one of, if not the greatest coach in football history.

Vince Lombardi has become virtually synonymous with the NFL. This began during his career: he was featured as the face of the NFL on the cover of Time on December 14, 1962 as part of the magazine’s cover story on “The Sport of the ’60s.” Lombardi’s players were wholeheartedly devoted to him, and his emphasis on hard work and dedication endeared him to millions who admired his values. In addition to Lombardi’s contributions to the history of pro football, Lombardi is legendary for his coaching philosophy and motivational skills. Many of Lombardi’s speeches continue to be quoted frequently today, and he is well known as being unequivocally committed to winning. One of his most famous maxims is “Winning isn’t everything; it’s the only thing,” although he did not coin the phrase and the exact words he used are disputed. “Lombardi time” is the principle that one should arrive 10–15 minutes early, or else be considered late. His chief scout, Wally Cruice, once said of Lombardi’s single-minded devotion to the game: “you didn’t talk about anything but football. If you didn’t have the facts, he didn’t want you to waste his time.”